Gas/Steam Medium

• If the medium is already a gas/steam, the phenomenon that 
the flow medium will change from the liquid o the gas phase 
d
does to occur, thus no 
t th
thus no cavitation
cavitation
it ti has 
h to be considered.
has to be considered
t b id d
• For lower temperature, the sonic velocity is low. In order to 
avoid supersonic and sonic flows the flow velocity has to 
id i d i fl th fl l it h t
lower. But the flow velocity may be desired  to be higher.
• Above
Above sonic velocity(supersonic flow) their an occurrence of 
sonic velocity(supersonic flow) their an occurrence of
shock waves which represent losses.
• The nearness of the flow velocity to the sonic velocity a may
be expressed using the Mach Number.
Number.
C
M=
a
• IN general, flow conditions where M=1 and normally also
those with M>1 (supersonic flow) have to be avoided.
• The sonic velocity of a gas is: P
a= k = kRT
ρ

• Since for a given gas k and R are constant, the locally

prevailing temperature determines the sonic velocity a, the
danger or reaching sonic velocity is greatest where the
temperature is the lowest.
• In general, this is at the suction end of the turbomachine
turbomachine..
 Sonic Number
• Similar to the definition of the suction number Sq, a sonic number 
may be defined as follows:

Vg
Sa = δ r n
ka 3
Where:  n speed 
δr = 1 – (Coua/U1a)
Vg = volume at suction end but at velocity equal to zero.
(dn/ds)2
K = 1‐(d
K = 1
a = sonic velocity related to the flow temp. at velocity zero

δr = 1 = Sa = 0.12 to 0.14

• The sonic number Sa can be used for determining the maximum

speed which still avoids sonic velocity
velocity..
 The Suction Diameter-
Diameter-The inlet Number ε
and the Discharge Number ε2

• The suction diameter has to be chosen so that βoa obtains its

desired value with regard to avoiding cavitation or sonic
velocity or with regard to obtaining lowest friction loss at the
vane suction edge.
• The following βoa were mentioned in the pervious chapters.

β oa ≈ 17 0 Pump : avoiding cavitation ⎫

⎪
β oa ≈ 20 0
Turbine avoiding cavitation ⎪
β oa ≈ 35 0
Smallest Woa : ⎪⎪
⎬if δ r = 1
Compressor : avoiding sonic velocity ⎪
all turbomachi ne : obtaining lowest friction loss at ⎪
⎪
suction edge of rotor vanes ⎪⎭
 Coua woua dn
δr = 1− = k = 1−
u1a u1a Ds

Coma C
tan β oa= = oma
u1a − Coua δ r u1a

D1a
Coma = δ r u1a tan β oa= δ r ω tan β oa= f1Cs with D1a = f 2 DS
2
• Where f
Wh f1, ff2 factors of proportionality
f t f ti lit
• It follows V' fV' D
Coma = f1CS = f1 = 1 = δ r f 2 s ω tan β oa
As k π D 2 2
S
4

• and
8 f 1V ' 4V ' f1
Ds = 3 = 3
k πδ r ω tan β oa f 2 k π 2 n tan β oa f 2δ r
• The suction diameter Ds may also be determined using the 
following dimensionless numbers:
following dimensionless numbers:
• Inlet Number (for pumps and compressors) ε = Com = Com
2Y CY

C02m C02m
• Discharge Number(turbines) ε =
2
= 2
2Y CY

• After some derivation:
After some derivation:

2/3
⎛δ ⎞
ε = 1.643 f1 f 22 f 3 ⎜ r tan β oa N shape
h ⎟ and V'
⎝ k ⎠ where f3 =
4/3 V
⎛δ ⎞
ε 2 = 2.70( f1 f 22 f 3 )
2/3
⎜ r tan β oa N shape ⎟
⎝ k ⎠
 • The inlet Number for pumps and compressors, assuming:
δ = 1,
δr 1 (dn/Ds)2 ≈0.8
1 k = 1-(d 0 8 andd βoa = 14 to 380 is
i

⎛ ⎞
⎜ ⎟
f 3 (N shape )
⎜ ⎟3 Where
ε = ⎜ 0{ . 70 to 1{ .5 ⎟ f 1 f 2
2 2/3
3
f1 f 22 f 3 ≈ 1.1
⎜⎜ Cavitation Sonic velocity / ⎟
Low friction loss at ⎟
⎝ rotor inlet ⎠

• For Slow‐running rotor with Nshape < 0.1 and k =1; The value of 
ε may be taken independent of N
b t k i d d t f Nshape as

ε = 0{
.1 to 0{
.3
Cavitation Sonic velocity / Low friction loss at rotor inlet

The ε2 for turbines has to be calculated from the equation 
• The ε for turbines has to be calculated from the equation
given above taking into account the actual values of δr and k.